2015 KIA SOUL Complaints

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer to have the recall repairs completed. The contact stated on March 5, 2021 while driving 30 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed but failed to accelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed both front and rear catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated on April 29, 2021 while driving 80 mph, the vehicle seized. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to glide on neutral to a stop. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the engine was needing to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer for diagnosis and repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

The contact's daughter owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 45 mph when she heard abnormal noise and saw smoke exiting from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated multiple warning lights were illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The driver called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (ENGINE). The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and they would not honor the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 101,027.

I received a recall notice from Kia. The notice said the engine may catch fire because of oil leaks and a Kia dealer would inspect the engine. The Kia dealer mechanic said there was no oil leak, though he noted oil on the valve cover (3-31-21). He also said one ignition coil spring was damaged. When I took the car to my mechanic, he said all the coil springs were soaked with oil due to a defective valve cover gasket. He replaced the gasket and the coils. I submitted documentation for all the claims in this note to the Kia Consumer Assistance department. They said I would have to wait 2 months for a response. I waited 2 months and have received no response. Sincerely, Joe Saccaro. What component malfunctioned? Valve cover gasket. Available for inspection upon request? Yes, I have all the parts. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Engine fire. The NHTSA required the recall. Has the problem confirmed? Yes, by a certified mechanic. (Document included,) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the dealer. Yes, the dealer mechanic confirmed the leak (attached) but did not say the valve cover gasket needed replacement. Were there any symptoms of the problem prior to the failure? Yes, oil on the engine cover, as noted by the Kia Mechanic. (attached)

2015 Kia Soul engine failure with approximately 71k miles, Jan 1029. This particular VIN was not part of a prior recall. A recall was issued after this date to request owners of these particular vehicles to bring their cars in to the dealership to have them checked and a possible software update to prevent engine failures. What recourse do I have as there is not a recall for my particular VIN to replace a failed engine and since the engine has already failed and modifications to software abviously is not a solution at this point? How does a consumer get protection from a clearly known failure mode for these particular engines? Please Help!!!

approximately 9 months ago (approximately 65,000 miles) the vehicle was operating oddly and there was a low level noise. Took it to a repair shop and they told me there was no oil showing on the dip stick. The references a NHTSA warning for this vehicle/engine that after 60K miles it begins to rapidly consume oil, something having to do with leaking valves and he oil burning up faster. The obvious problem is that the engine could seize up if this got worse. From that point forward I was putting in about a quart of oil every 2 weeks (500 miles or so). Made repeated calls to KIA and filed a report. They promised to look into it and have a decision at a regional level to repair. No response ever received. I took the vehicle to the local dealer about 2 months ago. They had nothing to report regarding my issue, treated another unrelated recall. Returned again as oil consumption was getting worse. they conducted a formal oil consumption test which showed dramatic increase in just the 2,500 miles the car was tested and at the last one said the oil was very bad and the engine was failing now, not just consuming a lot of oil. Today I was informed that any support from KIA has been denied and that my vehicle was damaged, needing over $5,000 in repair and basically worthless.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the engine failed due to the catalytic converter and a burnt valve inside of the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the previous vehicle owner had received a recall notification on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 160,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, there was a knocking sound then a loud boom heard. The contact and her passengers detected a smoke odor and saw that there was smoke coming from the hood. The vehicle would not accelerate so the contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact then tried to turn on the vehicle but the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was a hole in the engine. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and diagnosed that there was a hole in the engine which caused the oil to leak. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure however, the manufacturer informed the dealer that they were not responsible for the repair since the contact had not gotten the recall repair for the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software update. The contact stated that she received the recall notification six days before the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 93,050.

2015 Kia Soul's oil has been changed every 3K miles and has been well maintained. Check engine light came on on 4/7/21, and burning smell and vehicle was taken to service. Code showed Catalytic Converter but no open recalls for anything else. Service did not show that a Product Improvement Notice was open nor was my daughter notified in writing of that open Notice. Last night the vehicle lost all oil, threw a rod and the engine blew up with no explosion, fortunately. Kia says that will not cover the engine replacement yet it appears that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated that there is a recall for this issue with a number of vehicles actually catching fire. The vehicle is now at a dealership in Nashville, TN but they say the replacement is not covered. Request NHTSA involvement in helping resolve this with Kia. Please contact me [XXX] and/or [XXX] as soon as possible. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Leasing a 2015 Kia Soul + from Weston Kia in Portland, Or. on 9/1/20 with 94,191 miles on it. I’ve had routine oil changes done on 12/14/20 @ 99,961 miles & again on 3/8/21 @ 104,432. Now from about 1-2 months after leasing my Kia, the MIL would turn on for some time then go off just to turn back on again. I had an ASE certified mechanic where I work run a diagnostic Check on it with a code of P0014. Called Weston Kia service department about it and I was told that I would have to bring it in to them, charge me $139 to run their diagnostic check to see what’s up! Now On 1/25/21 I received a letter from Kia about a safety recall, #20V750 for my Kia, after 3 months I was finally able to get it in for the recall service. I’ve looked up my vin number again to find out that nothing was done with my car however, now both my MIL & EOPWL, only at idle, is flashing, and I’ve had to add oil to my engine 2 times between oil changes, occasionally during acceleration my car hesitates from lack of power! Now I’m scheduled today, 5/25/21, to go back to the dealership service center to again have my car looked at. Now after reading all 459 complaints from other Kia owners with similar issues, that my first high interest rate, leased car that I still owe 10k on, is either going to cost even more to get fixed or it’s just going to die because I can’t afford to get KIA’s faulty engine problems fixed nor keep going back to have a diagnostic test done @$139 just to tell me it’s nothing! 459 similar complaints is telling me that I just dug myself into a hole.

My 2015 Kia Soul is currently in the repair shop at Jim Marsh Kia,in Las Vegas Nv,awaiting an engine replacement.The vehicles engine light had come on for the 3rd time in apx 4 weeks .The first 2 times I brought the vehicle in the technician told me I probably did not tighten the gas cap and he turned off the engine light and sent me in my way.The only difference the 2nd time the engine light came on was the technician told me if this keeps happening (meaning not tightening my gas cap and causing the engine light to come on)I would need to schedule an appointment.This last time,the 3rd time,I got in the car to pick up my granddaughter and when I started the car it sounded like a bunch of nuts and bolts in a blender. I knew the problem was not anything to do with a gas cap and I had a friend follow behind me and drove very slowly to the dealership repair.I was told the car needed a new engine but the repair and a rent a car had to be authorized.I could not be without a car as I drive my granddaughter to school everyday and this week had band concerts,picnics and graduation events for 8 th grade.I was forced to rent a car in my own however there were no cars available and I spent a day having my friend drive me around trying to find one. The next day I was lucky enough to get a car when someone canceled a reservation.On May 21st,a week later the Kia dealership called and told me that I needed to call the corporate office and speak with them.I called corporate and they asked for my Vin because they wanted to see if I was part of a lawsuit.I had no idea what they were talking about. Then they told me they would fix my car and give me a rental but my car wouldn’t be finished for 3-6 weeks because the parts would be coming from many different places.I also asked the corporate office if they would reimburse me the $600- I had to pay for the rent a car .I was told to contact the dealership as they handled that.So,I contacted the dealership.More information but no space,